au pair

Au Pair in Australia: visa information

The requirements for a visa in Australia are:
  • between 18 - 30 years of age
  • not married and no children 
  • never previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday Visa
  • enough savings to pay during a working holiday (about 5000 AUD)
  • enough money to cover the travel cost to Australia and back
  • citizenship and passport from one of the following countries
Au Pair in Australia visa

Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) to Australia

The Working Holiday Visa is for young people who want to visit Australia and spend up to one year there to work and travel.
The visa is valid for 12 months and starts the day the Au Pair enters Australia. Although, according to the law, the visitor should not work more than 6 months for the same employer in Australia, there is no problem for Au Pairs to stay with the same Host Family for 12 months.
     
To apply for the Working Holiday visa, the Au Pair needs to fulfil the following requirements:
  • between 18 - 30 years of age
  • not married and no children
  • never previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
  • enough savings to pay during a working holiday (about 5000 AUD)
  • enough money to cover the travel cost to Australia and back
  • citizenship and passport from one of the following countries:

Belgium Cyprus Denmark Germany
Estonia Finland France Hong Kong
Ireland Italy Japan Canada
Korea Malta Netherlands Norway
Sweden Taiwan United Kingdom  
 

Other requirements

  • Health insurance

The Au Pair needs to purchase a private health insurance - otherwise the participant will have to cover all medical treatment cost on their own.
  • Health requirements

The Au Pair needs to meet certain health requirements - the examination depends on the personal circumstances, like the period of the stay, country of origin, time spent abroad during the last five years and intended activity in Australia.
  • Character requirements

The Au Pair will have to meet certain character requirements. If asked to do so, the applicant will have to provide police certificates from every country the Au Pair lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years.
  • Biometrics

Au Pairs from certain countries might have to provide biometrics along with the visa application. 

Application for the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

1. Valid passport

The Au Pair needs to have a valid passport to start the visa application - the passport should remain valid at least 6 months afterwards as well.
    

2. Documents

The Au Pair needs to prepare the set of documents that prove the claims made in the application. You can find the full list on the official website of the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
     

3. Submitting the visa application

The Au Pair can submit the visa application via post, online or in person. Usually, the application online is the easiest. There is an application fee - therefore a credit card is necessary while applying online.
     
To apply in person or through post, first the Au Pair needs to fill and lodge the visa application to one of the immigration offices (the fee is also necessary).

4. The decision

The authorities will check the application and send the decision through post or email. In case of an unsuccessful application, the fee will not be returned.

Second application for the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

The Au Pair can receive the Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) twice. To apply for the second time the Au Pair needs to fulfil all the requirements of the first application, and additionally prove that some specified work has been completed during the first stay.
     
The Au Pair can apply for the second Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) from Australia - in such case, the participant must apply and receive a visa while still being in Australia.
In another case, the Au Pair can submit the application outside of Australia and get the visa if the Au Pair remains outside of the country.

Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) to Australia

The Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) is issued to young people, who want to travel and work in Australia for up to 12 months.
This visa  is valid for 12 months, starting on the day the Au Pair enters Australia. Visitors cannot work for the same employer longer than 6 months, but the Au Pair can stay with the same Host Family up to 12 months.
Please remember that the number of Work and Holiday Visas issued per year is limited!
 
To apply for a visa the Au Pair has to fulfil the following requirements:
  • between 18 - 30 years of age
  • enough savings to pay during a working holiday (about 5000 AUD)
  • enough money for the ticket to Australia and back
  • never entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
  • citizenship and a valid passport from one of the following countries:

Argentina Bangladesh Brazil Chile
China Indonesia Israel Malaysia
Poland Portugal Slovak Republic Slovenia
Spain Thailand Turkey USA
Uruguay      

Other requirements:

  • Character requirements

The Au Pair might have to provide - on request - police certificates from every country she/he has lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years. 
  • Health insurance requirements

Unless the Au Pair’s country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, the Au Pair will not have any health scheme in Australia. We recommend purchasing the right health insurance covering the whole length of the stay. 
  • Health requirements

The Au Pair will need to meet certain health requirements. The examinations depend on personal circumstances, like period of the stay, citizenship, time spent abroad during the last 5 years and intended activity in Australia. 
  • Educational requirements

The requirements depend on the Au Pair’s citizenship, but usually any evidence that the Au Pair has completed at least 2 or 3 years of undergraduate university study is enough to receive the visa.
  • Language requirements

The Au Pair needs to have functional English language to apply for the visa.
  • Letter of support

With the exceptions of Au Pairs from Israel and China, Au Pairs need to have a letter of support from their government 
  • Biometrics

Depending on the Au Pair’s nationality, the biometrics may be another requirement.  

Application for the Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)  

1. The passport

The Au Pair needs to check validity of the passport - it should be valid at the moment of application and at least 6 months afterwards.  
    

2. Documents

Submit a set of documents proving the claims in the application - you can find the list on the official website of Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
    

3. The visa application

Citizens from the US can apply for the visa online. The Au Pairs from other countries need to submit the application through post or in person. Find out the exact details regarding the available offices on the official website. All the documents need to be either in original English, or translated by a certified translator.
     

4. The decision

After processing the application, the Au Pair will receive the decision by email.

Second application for the Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)

The Au Pair can apply for the Work and Holiday Visa twice - the requirements are similar to the ones for the first application. Additionally, the Au Pair has to have completed 3 months of specified work while being in Australia on the first Work and Holiday visa. All the applicants can submit the second application online.
     
To extend the stay, the Au Pair needs to submit the application in Australia before the first visa expires. The applicant cannot exceed 31 years of age.


Au Pair in Australia: information about the Au Pair program
Au Pair in Australia: information about the Au Pair program Read More »
Au Pair in Australia: salary, holidays and more
Au Pair in Australia: salary, holidays and more Read More »
Au Pair contract and insurance in Australia
Au Pair contract and insurance in Australia Read More »
Au Pair in Australia: requirements and the process
Au Pair in Australia: requirements and the process Read More »
Au Pair in Australia: Information for Host Families
Au Pair in Australia: Information for Host Families Read More »
Au Pair Australia: most interesting & fun places to visit
Au Pair Australia: most interesting & fun places to visit Read More »


Pro Aupair